Q&A: Are Hot Tubs Safe During Pregnancy?

My in-laws have a hot tub. Is it totally off limits for me during pregnancy?

Hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms all have the potential to raise your core body temperature. Early in pregnancy (around five to six weeks of gestation), increased core body temperature has been associated with fetal neural tube defects like spina bifida. Hyperthermia (temperature greater than 102 degrees Fahrenheit) has also been associated with miscarriage, fetal growth restriction and brain damage. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, I generally recommend that you avoid immersing yourself in a hot tub.